By exempting government surveillance from its new controls, the EU has created a “foreground AI” vs “background AI” dichotomy — and claimed the latter for itself.

The EU AI Act lists certain AI systems as categorically “High Risk.” Generally, these systems involve mechanical safety or basic civil rights. Glaring exclusions from the list appear to include AI systems in the pharmaceutical and financial market sectors.

The EU’s new AI Act gives the Union sweeping powers to regulate AI-based systems. AI-based Social Media platforms used for manipulating behavior and social-scoring are clearly in the EU’s crosshairs. While they’re at it, the EU paves the way for broad use by government of Biometric ID Systems in public.